vanity fair(名利场)-第125节

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will　tell　Chawles　his　notions　about　you　over　their　pipes
and　pewter　beer…pots。　　Some　people　ought　to　have　mutes
for　servants　in　Vanity　Fairmutes　who　could　not　write。
If　you　are　guilty；　tremble。　　That　fellow　behind　your　chair
may　be　a　Janissary　with　a　bow…string　in　his　plush　breeches
pocket。　　If　you　are　not　guilty；　have　a　care　of
appearances；　which　are　as　ruinous　as　guilt。
〃Was　Rebecca　guilty　or　not？〃　the　Vehmgericht　of　tho
servants'　hall　had　pronounced　against　her。
And；　I　shame　to　say；　she　would　not　have　got　credit
had　they　not　believed　her　to　be　guilty。　　It　was　the　sight　of
the　Marquis　of　Steyne's　carriage…lamps　at　her　door；
contemplated　by　Raggles；　burning　in　the　blackness　of
midnight；　〃that　kep　him　up；〃　as　he　afterwards　said；　that
even　more　than　Rebecca's　arts　and　coaxings。
And　soguiltless　very　likelyshe　was　writhing　and
pushing　onward　towards　what　they　call　〃a　position　in
society；〃　and　the　servants　were　pointing　at　her　as　lost
and　ruined。　　So　you　see　Molly；　the　housemaid；　of　a　morning；
watching　a　spider　in　the　doorpost　lay　his　thread　and
laboriously　crawl　up　it；　until；　tired　of　the　sport；　she
raises　her　broom　and　sweeps　away　the　thread　and　the
artificer。
A　day　or　two　before　Christmas；　Becky；　her　husband
and　her　son　made　ready　and　went　to　pass　the　holidays
at　the　seat　of　their　ancestors　at　Queen's　Crawley。　　Becky
would　have　liked　to　leave　the　little　brat　behind；　and
would　have　done　so　but　for　Lady　Jane's　urgent　invitations
to　the　youngster；　and　the　symptoms　of　revolt　and
discontent　which　Rawdon　manifested　at　her　neglect　of　her
son。　　〃He's　the　finest　boy　in　England；〃　the　father　said　in　a
tone　of　reproach　to　her；　〃and　you　don't　seem　to　care　for
him；　Becky；　as　much　as　you　do　for　your　spaniel。　　He
shan't　bother　you　much；　at　home　he　will　be　away　from
you　in　the　nursery；　and　he　shall　go　outside　on　the　coach
with　me。〃
〃Where　you　go　yourself　because　you　want　to　smoke
those　filthy　cigars；〃　replied　Mrs。　Rawdon。
〃I　remember　when　you　liked　'em　though；〃　answered　the
husband。
Becky　laughed；　she　was　almost　always　good…humoured。
〃That　was　when　I　was　on　my　promotion；　Goosey；〃　she
said。　　〃Take　Rawdon　outside　with　you　and　give　him　a　cigar
too　if　you　like。〃
Rawdon　did　not　warm　his　little　son　for　the　winter's
journey　in　this　way；　but　he　and　Briggs　wrapped　up　the
child　in　shawls　and　comforters；　and　he　was　hoisted
respectfully　onto　the　roof　of　the　coach　in　the。dark　morning；
under　the　lamps　of　the　White　Horse　Cellar；　and　with
no　small　delight　he　watched　the　dawn　rise　and　made
his　first　journey　to　the　place　which　his　father　still　called
home。　　It　was　a　journey　of　infinite　pleasure　to　the　boy；　to
whom　the　incidents　of　the　road　afforded　endless　interest；
his　father　answering　to　him　all　questions　connected　with　it
and　telling　him　who　lived　in　the　great　white　house　to　the
right；　and　whom　the　park　belonged　to。　　His　mother；　inside
the　vehicle；　with　her　maid　and　her　furs；　her　wrappers；　and
her　scent　bottles；　made　such　a　to…do　that　you　would　have
thought　she　never　had　been　in　a　stage…coach　before
much　less；　that　she　had　been　turned　out　of　this　very　one
to　make　room　for　a　paying　passenger　on　a　certain
journey　performed　some　half…score　years　ago。
It　was　dark　again　when　little　Rawdon　was　wakened　up
to　enter　his　uncle's　carriage　at　Mudbury；　and　he　sat　and
looked　out　of　it　wondering　as　the　great　iron　gates　flew
open；　and　at　the　white　trunks　of　the　limes　as　they　swept
by；　until　they　stopped；　at　length；　before　the　light　windows
of　the　Hall；　which　were　blazing　and　comfortable　with
Christmas　welcome。　　The　hall…door　was　flung　opena　big
fire　was　burning　in　the　great　old　fire…placea　carpet　was
down　over　the　chequered　black　flags〃It's　the　old　Turkey
one　that　used　to　be　in　the　Ladies'　Gallery；〃　thought
Rebecca；　and　the　next　instant　was　kissing　Lady　Jane。
She　and　Sir　Pitt　performed　the　same　salute　with　great
gravity；　but　Rawdon；　having　been　smoking；　hung　back
rather　from　his　sister…in…law；　whose　two　children　came
up　to　their　cousin；　and；　while　Matilda　held　out　her　hand
and　kissed　him；　Pitt　Binkie　Southdown；　the　son　and　heir；
stood　aloof　rather　and　examined　him　as　a　little　dog　does
a　big　dog。
Then　the　kind　hostess　conducted　her　guests　to　the　snug
apartments　blazing　with　cheerful　fires。　　Then　the　young
ladies　came　and　knocked　at　Mrs。　Rawdon's　door；　under
the　pretence　that　they　were　desirous　to　be　useful；　but　in
reality　to　have　the　pleasure　of　inspecting　the　contents　of
her　band　and　bonnet…boxes；　and　her　dresses　which；　though
black；　were　of　the　newest　London　fashion。　　And　they　told
her　how　much　the　Hall　was　changed　for　the　better；　and
how　old　Lady　Southdown　was　gone；　and　how　Pitt　was
taking　his　station　in　the　county；　as　became　a　Crawley　in
fact。　　Then　the　great　dinner…bell　having　rung；　the　family
assembled　at　dinner；　at　which　meal　Rawdon　Junior　was
placed　by　his　aunt；　the　good…natured　lady　of　the　house；
Sir　Pitt　being　uncommonly　attentive　to　his　sister…in…law　at
his　own　right　hand。
Little　Rawdon　exhibited　a　fine　appetite　and　showed　a
gentlemanlike　behaviour。
〃I　like　to　dine　here；〃　he　said　to　his　aunt　when　he　had
completed　his　meal；　at　the　conclusion　of　which；　and
after　a　decent　grace　by　Sir　Pitt；　the　younger　son　and
heir　was　introduced；　and　was　perched　on　a　high　chair
by　the　Baronet's　side；　while　the　daughter　took　possession
of　the　place　and　the　little　wine…glass　prepared　for　her
near　her　mother。　　〃I　like　to　dine　here；〃　said　Rawdon　Minor；
looking　up　at　his　relation's　kind　face。
〃Why？〃　said　the　good　Lady　Jane。
〃I　dine　in　the　kitchen　when　I　am　at　home；〃　replied
Rawdon　Minor；　〃or　else　with　Briggs。〃　But　Becky　was　so
engaged　with　the　Baronet；　her　host；　pouring　out　a　flood　of
compliments　and　delights　and　raptures；　and　admiring
young　Pitt　Binkie；　whom　she　declared　to　be　the　most
beautiful；　intelligent；　noble…looking　little　creature；　and　so
like　his　father；　that　she　did　not　hear　the　remarks　of　her
own　flesh　and　blood　at　the　other　end　of　the　broad
shining　table。
As　a　guest；　and　it　being　the　first　night　of　his　arrival；
Rawdon　the　Second　was　allowed　to　sit　up　until　the　hour
when　tea　being　over；　and　a　great　gilt　book　being　laid　on
the　table　before　Sir　Pitt；　all　the　domestics　of　the　family
streamed　in；　and　Sir　Pitt　read　prayers。　　It　was　the　first
time　the　poor　little　boy　had　ever　witnessed　or　heard　of
such　a　ceremonial。
The　house　had　been　much　improved　even　since　the
Baronet's　brief　reign；　and　was　pronounced　by　Becky　to　be
perfect；　charming；　delightful；　when　she　surveyed　it　in
his　company。　　As　for　little　Rawdon；　who　examined　it　with
the　children　for　his　guides；　it　seemed　to　him　a　perfect
palace　of　enchantment　and　wonder。　　There　were　long
galleries；　and　ancient　state　bedrooms；　there　were
pictures　and　old　China；　and　armour。　　There　were　the　rooms
in　which　Grandpapa　died；　and　by　which　the　children
walked　with　terrified　looks。　　〃Who　was　Grandpapa？〃　he
asked；　and　they　told　him　how　he　used　to　be　very　old；　and
used　to　be　wheeled　about　in　a　garden…chair；　and　they
showed　him　the　garden…chair　one　day　rotting　in　the
out…house　in　which　it　had　lain　since　the　old　gentleman　had
been　wheeled　away　yonder　to　the　church；　of　which　the
spire　was　glittering　over　the　park　elms。
The　brothers　had　good　occupation　for　several　mornings
in　examining　the　improvements　which　had　been　effected
by　Sir　Pitt's　genius　and　economy。　　And　as　they　walked
or　rode；　and　looked　at　them；　they　could　talk　without
too　much　boring　each　other。　　And　Pitt　took　care　to　tell
Rawdon　what　a　heavy　outlay　of　money　these　improvements
had　occasioned；　and　that　a　man　of　landed　and　funded
property　was　often　very　hard　pressed　for　twenty　pounds。
〃There　is　that　new　lodge…gate；〃　said　Pitt；　pointing　to
it　humbly　with　the　bamboo　cane；　〃I　can　no　more　pay　for　it
before　the　dividends　in　January　than　I　can　fly。〃
〃I　can　lend　you；　Pitt；　till　then；〃　Rawdon　answered　rather
ruefully；　and　they　went　in　and　looked　at　the　restored　lodge；
where　the　family　arms　were　just　new　scraped　in　stone；
and　where　old　Mrs。　Lock；　for　the　first　time　these　many
long　years；　had　tight　doors；　sound　roofs；　and　whole
windows。

CHAPTER　XLV
Between　Hampshire　and　London
Sir　Pitt　Crawley　had　done　more　than　repair　fences　and
restore　dilapidated　lodges　on　the　Queen's　Crawley　estate。
Like　a　wise　man　he　had　set　to　work　to　rebuild　the
injured　popularity　of　his　house　and　stop　up　the　gaps　and
ruins　in　which　his　name　had　been　left　by　his　disreputable
and　thriftless　old　predecessor。　　He　was　elected　for　the
borough　speedily　after　his　father's　demise；　a　magistrate；
a　member　of　parliament；　a　county　magnate　and　representative
of　an　ancient　family；　he　made　it　his　duty　to　show
himself　before　the　Hampshire　public；　subscribed
handsomely　to　the　county　charities；　called　assiduously　upon
all　the　county　folk；　and　laid　himself　out　in　a　word　to　take
that　position　in　Hampshire；　and　in　the　Empire　afterwards；
to　which　he　thought　his　prodigious　talents　justly
entitled　him。　　Lady　Jane　was　instructed　to　be　friendly　with
the　Fuddlestones；　and　the　Wapshots；　and　the　other
famous　baronets；　their　neighbours。　　Their　carriages　might
frequently　be　seen　in　the　Queen's　Crawley　avenue　now；
they　dined　pretty　frequently　at　the　Hall　（where　the　cookery
was　so　good　that　it　was